Lockable closure for tanks



12,, 1929. wahsw A. M. MALLUK ET AL LOCKABLE CLOSURE FOR TANKS Filed Jan. '7, 3.928

1 IIIIIII.

INVENTORS 14555 0 M A4 12; w? 5/g/vfy E 5:24

m m m Patented Feb. 12:1929.

UNITED STATES ASSAD M. MALLUK, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y., AND SIDNEY R. BELL, F RO'WAYTON, GON- 1,701,816 PATENT orr ce.

NECTIGUT, SAID BELL ASSIGNOR TO SAID MALLUK.

LOCKAZBLE c nosnnn FOR TANKS.

' Application filed January 7, 1928. Serial No. 245,149.

lit is the objectof the present invention to improve upon closures of the type disclosed in copending application, Serial No. 196,442, filed by one of the present'joint applicants.

The closure of that other application coinprises three parts: a plug designed to be seated on a filling neck by a turning movement, a normally rotatable cap mounted upon and completely covering the plug, and a lock by means of which the cap may, when desired, be held against rotation relative to the plug. Thus, when the cap is free to r0 tate, the plug, it seated cannot be removed and the tank is therefore locked, but when the cap is held fast to the plug, the plug can be removed by turning the cap. The cap is held against axial movement relative to the plug by means of a retaining pin extending through the cap and lying partly within an annular groove in a boss on the plug about which the cap is normally free to rotate. Free rotation is prevented by means of a bolt normally lying within a groove in the plug but slidable to enter a corresponding groove in the cap when the two are in registry. The

lock cylinder, by means of which the bolt is actuated, is carried by the cap and projects slightly above its upper face.

The retaining pin which extends through the cap and lies partly within the annular groove in the boss about which the cap rotates, terminates externally of the cap and although removal of this pin by unauthorized persons would be a very difficult operation, it would, nevertheless, be possible to remove it. Once removed thecap could be taken from the plug andaccess thus had to the tank by simply unscrewing the plug. In accordance with the present invention we have positioned the retaining pin so that it cannot be reached. In doing this we have reversed the position of the pin and groove, placing the latter on the cap and the former in the plug. The pin is thus completely covered by the cap when the parts are assembled and cannot be removed.

Whensliding the bolt of the earlier closure to lie within both grooves, the one in the plug and the other in the cap, it is,-of course, necessary that these grooves be in'registry. It is therefore necessary to turnthe cap slowly with one hand whileattempting to turn the key with the other, so that the bolt will be slid outward when the two slots register. In accordance with the present invention we have simplified this operation by providing the cap with a spring-pressed detent which fits into a depression in the cap when the two slots are in registry. Hence it is necessary only to spin the cap until the detent automatically indicates that the slots are in proper position, whereupon the key is turned and the bolt shot. The force exerted by the spring of this detent is very slight so that the detent in no sense acts to lock the cap on the plug, but merely indicates that the parts are in such position that the bolt may he moved to lock'the cap to the plug.

The lock cylinder of the earlier closure extends slightly above the outer upper :taceot the cap. l ve consider it better construction to have the upper end of the cylinder terminate below the outer upper face oat-the cap, the cap thus acting not only to protect the cylinder, but facilitating ease of handling during shipment, etc. We have accordingly provided the outer upper face of the cap with a countersink in which the upper end of the lock cylinder terminates. This countersink, however, would be likely to catch and retain liquids such as water or gasoline which would tend to corrode the lock mechanism were not measures taken to prevent this. We have therefore provided this countersink with a drain whereby any liquid falling into it is immediately lead away.

Tnthe accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of our invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the closure showing the cap only; Flgure 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 and seated within an internally threaded filling neck 1 of a tank. The closure proper consists of an externally threaded :plug 2 which is screwed into the neck and makes a gas and liquid-tight seal by means of a gasket 3 inter osed between the outer end of the neck an an annular flange 4 on the plug. Ex-

tending upwardl from the plu isan ennu lar boss 5 upon w ibh, and the ange 4, acap 6, in the form of a hexagonal nut, is rotatably mounted. As illustrated most clearly in Figure 2, the cap is-provided with a depending annular flange 7 which extends within a short distance of .the filling neck land completely covers the plug when the latter is mounted on the neck in tank closing position. In this position it is therefore impossible to reach the plug and as long as the cap is free to rotate the plug cannot be unscrewed.

We shall now describe our improved means for holding the cap against axial displacement relative to the plug while at the same time permitting free relative rotation. Two. horizontal holes 8 are drilled through the walls of the annular boss 5, the drill Just passing through the inner space defined by the boss so that the outer side of the drill is substantially tangent to the inner face of the boss. This operation produces a pair of arc-.

uate grooves in the inner face of the boss which are deepened, preferably by cutting through the walls of the boss to form slots 9.

.A pair of spring-wire steel pins 11, not longer than the chords defined by the holes 8, are inserted into these holes, and extend partly within the inner space defined by the boss with their outer elements l'ying substantially tangent with the inner face of the boss, all as clearly shown in Figure 5. The cap 6 is provided with a depending centrally disposed stud 12 which constitutes the inner wall of an annular recess 13 of the same dimensions as those of the annular boss 5 and designed to receive the latter when the cap is seated upon the plug. This stud 12 is provided with an annular groove 14, and just beyond that, with.

a beveled edge 15.

ters the pins 8. Were these pins rigid, or were there no slots 9, it would obviously be impossible to proceed further. However, upon exerting a pressure upon the cap the beveled edge 15 bends the pins 8 outward until their middle portions are forced into the slots 9, thus permitting the stud to pass. The next instant, however, the groove 12 reaches the plane of the pins which thereupon spring back into their original position and are seated within the groove. The cap is thus mounted upon the plug for free rotary movement, but is effectively locked against axial di lacement relative to the plug.

1 order to make seating and unseating of the plugon the neck possible, a lock is provided for holding the cap and plug against relative rotation so that a wrench applied to the cap can turn the plug. This lock com 18, the lock cylinder being keyed in position within the stud 12 by means of a screw 19'.

The bolt18 lies within a groove 21 in the upper face of the plug and is slid back and forth in this groove b means of an eccentrically movable pin 22 epending from the lock cylinder and lying within a transverse'slot 23 in the bolt. Movement of the bolt-is thus effectedby inserting the key within the lock cylinder and turning it.

The cap 2 is also provided with a groove 24 of a width corresponding to that of the groove 21, and, when in registry with the latter, capable of receiving the outer end of the bolt. Thus, when the cap and plug are in the positions illustrated in Figure 3 the bolt can he slid to the left to be within both grooves and thus efi'ectively lock the plug and cap against relative rotation. When the partsare in this position a wrench applied to the hexagonal nut faces of the cap can screw or un-' screw the plug. When the plug has been seated on the filling neck, the key is turned in the lock to withdraw thebolt and retract it to a position within the cylindrical boss 5 in which'position it clears the groove 24: of the cap and leaves the latter free to rotate upon the plug. When in this position, the pin 22 is concentric of the boss 580 that rotation of the cap is not interfered with.

The annular hoss fi is provided with a drilled hole 25 in which is seated a detent 26 and a=compression spring 27 constantly urging the detent outward. The bottom of the annular recess 13 in the cap is provided with a depression 28 designed to receive the outer end of the detent when in proper position. The detent and the slot are 50 arranged that when the former is seated in the latter the two grooves 21 and 2A are in registry and the bolt 18 can be moved to lock the cap to the p e- The outer upper face of the cap 6 is pro- Vided with a countersink 29 in which the upper end of the lock cylinder terminates. This countersink is provided with a gutter 31 which surrounds the outer end of the lock cylinder and leads any liquid falling into the countersinkto an outwardly and downwardly extending drain 32 which effectively removes'any such liquid and prevents corrosion of the lock mechanism.

When the closure of the present invention is seated upon the neck of the tank and the bolt 18 retracted to lie within the plug alone, the cap is free to rotate upon the. plug, and as it, in cooperation with the deck itself completely covers the plug, it is impossible for any'unauthorized person to gain access to the tank through the plug. The closure is of strong and rugged construction so that the cap cannot well be forcibly removed and as the retaining pins 11 are carried by the plu and not by the cap they cannot be reached and tampered with. The detent with its cooperating depression enables the operator by a simple spinning movement of the cap to locate the position of registry of the bolt slots so that a single turning movement of the key the lock mechanism.

lVe claim: I 1. A lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a plug designed to be seated by a turning movement, a cap rotatably mounted on the plug and covering it when the plug is seated, a pin on the plug lying Within an annular groove in the cap whereby axial displacement of cap and plug is prevented While they are left free for relative rotation, and a lock'for holding the cap and plug against relative rotation.

2. A. lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of aplug designed to be seated by a turning movement, a boss onthe plug, a cap rotatably mounted on the plugand covering it when seated, a pin on the lboss, an annular groove in the cap whiclrreceivesthe pin whereby axial displacement of cap and plug is prevented While they are left-,free for relative rotation, and a lock for holding the cap and plug against relative rotation.

3. A lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a plug designed to. be seated by a turning movement, an annular boss on the plug, a spring member extending from the bossand into the inner space defined by the boss, a cap rotatably mounted on the boss, a depending stud .on the cap extend- .ing within the inner space defined by the boss,

an annular groove in the side wall of'the stud into which the spring member projects to hold the cap and plug against relative axial movement, and a lock for holding the capan-d plug against relative rotation, the cap efiectively covering the plug when the latter is seated. Q I 1 r. A lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a plug designed to be seated by a turning movement, an annular boss on theplug, a spring member extending throughthe' boss and into the inner space defined by the boss, a cap provided with an annular recess for receiving the boss rotatably mounted on the boss, a depending stu'd on the cap forming the inner wall of the recess and extending within the inner space defined by the boss, an annular grove in the side wall of the stud into which the spring member projects to hold the cap and plug against relative axial movement, and a lock for holding the cap and plug against relative rotation,

the cap effectively covering the plug when the latter is seated.

5. A lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a plug designed to be seated by turning movement, an annular boss on the plug, a spring wire pin extending through the walls of the boss and passing across the inner space defined by the boss, the outer side of the wire pin being substantially tangent to the inner face of the boss, :1. slot in the boss behind the pin, a cap provided with an annular recess for receiving the boss rotatably mounted on the boss, a depending stud on the cap extending within the inner v space defined by the boss, an annular groove in the side Wall of the stud, a. beveled edge on the stud just beyond the annular groove whereby as the cap is seated upon the plug the stud forces the pin into the slot until received. by the groove, the cap and plug being thus held against relative axial movement though free for relative rotation, and a lock for holding the cap and plug against relative rotation when desired, the cap efiectively covering the plug when the latter is seated.

6. A lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a threaded plug, a cap rotatably mounted on the plug, a groove in in the plug, a corresponding groove in the capfa bolt completely enclosed by the cap adapted to enter both grooves when in registry and hold the cap and plug against relative rotation, and meansfor indicating when both grooves are in registry.

7. A. lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a threaded plug; a cap rotatably mounted on the plug, a groove in the plug, a corresponding groove in the cap, a bolt completely enclosed by the cap adapted to enter both grooves when in registry and hold the cap and plug against relative rotation, and a spring actuated detent on the plug designed to fit into a depression in the cap when both grooves are in registry.

8. A. lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a threaded plug, a cap rotatably mounted on the'plug and completely covering it when the plug is seated-on the tank, a lock external of the-plug for holding the cap, the outer end of the lock extending the outer upper face of the cap.

9. A lockable closure for tanks comprising the combination of a threaded plug having a groove in its upper face, a cap .rotata'bly mounted on the plug and having a groove 111 into'the countersink but terminating below its lower face, a bolt normally lying within the groove in the plug but not in the groove in the cap, a lock cylinder for moving the bolt to lie within both grooves and thus holdthe plug and cap against relative rotation, and a countersink in the outer upper face of the cylinder,the outer end of-the lock extending f int/o the countersink but terminating below of the cap, the outer end of the lock extending 10 the outer upper face of the cap. into the countersink but terminatin below 10. A lockable closure for tanks compristhe outer upper face of the cap, an means ing the combination of a threaded plug, a for draining off liquid from the countersink- 1 cap rotatably mounted on the plug and com- In testimony whereof we aflix our signai pletely covering it when the plug is seated tures. on the tank, a lock external of the plug for holding the cap anol plug against relative ASSAD M. MALLUK.

rotation, a countersink in the outer upper face SIDNEY R. BELL- 

